It’s common knowledge that Ridley Scott, at 87 years old, is one of Hollywood’s most impactful directors. Starting with his directorial debut for The Duellists in 1977, he has consistently dominated the box office with a diverse range of films including The Martian, Prometheus, Hannibal, Alien: Covenant, to name a few. Critics have also highly commended many of his productions. In 2024, Scott reclaimed the top spot at the box office with a historical epic blockbuster sequel to one of his earlier films that earned $462 million and is currently leading on Netflix streaming charts.
As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated sequel to his Academy Award-winning masterpiece from 2000, “Gladiator II,” is currently reigning supreme on the Netflix global top 10 movies chart. With an impressive 8.5 million views and a staggering 21 million hours watched, this David Scarpa-penned film claimed the fifth spot among the most-watched Netflix movies for the week ending August 3, 2025. It was outranked only by “Happy Gilmore” (No. 4), “My Oxford Year” (no. 3), “KPop Demon Hunters” (No. 2), and the unexpectedly popular “Happy Gilmore 2” (No. 1).
I’m disappointed to share that I can’t find Gladiator II on my Netflix subscription here in the U.S., as it seems to be exclusively available on Paramount+. However, in places where it is accessible for streaming, it has become an instant success and a top-rated title on Netflix. As per FlixPatrol data updated on Tuesday, the film currently ranks No. 8 worldwide, and even within the top three in various countries!
16 years following the events of Gladiator, we find ourselves in Gladiator II. This time, Paul Mescal takes on the role of Lucius Verus Aurelius, with Connie Nielsen portraying Lucilla, Pedro Pascal as General Acacius, Denzel Washington as Macrinus, Joseph Quinn as Emperor Geta, and Fred Hechinger as Emperor Caracalla. This historical epic unfolds around the life of Lucius, a prince exiled from Rome who is captured during an assault. Upon his return to Rome, he is forced to engage in combat within the Colosseum, much like his father, Maximus, the central character from the first film (played by Gerard Butler).
After a wait of 24 years filled with anticipation, the sequel to the blockbuster “Gladiator” finally hit screens. Released in 2000, the original film garnered massive success at the box office, earning $465.5 million worldwide and securing the title as the second-highest-grossing movie of the year behind “Mission: Impossible 2”. It also swept through award ceremonies, winning five Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Crowe. Therefore, it was no shock that the sequel enjoyed similar success.
In November 2024, the movie “Gladiator II” premiered in cinemas. It went on to amass a staggering $462.2 million globally and garnered a great deal of positive reviews from critics, securing a 70% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Much like its forerunner, “Gladiator II” was also honored in the award season, receiving one Oscar nomination and two nods for Golden Globe Awards.
In Scott’s book, Gladiator II stood out as exceptional. Before the film’s premiere, the renowned director labeled it as “the finest work I’ve ever produced.
Both Gladiator and Gladiator II are available to stream on Paramount+ in the U.S.
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2025-08-06 18:35